Red Bull Poised For Alternator Switch Prior To US GP
Red Bull will be forced to switch to Renault’s newer alternators prior to next month’s penultimate United States Grand Prix, after the reigning Constructors’ Champions reverted to the 2011 alternator spec following on from Sebastian Vettel’s double alternator failure at the Italian Grand Prix.
This is due to the fact that there is limited availability of the 2011-spec system which the Milton Keynes-based outfit have fallen back on, a fact which will therefore force the team to return to using the current Renault specification. Despite suffering alternator issues at the European and Italian Grands Prix, Renault have reassured Red Bull that the alternators have been revised so that the gremlins of the past do not return.
“The alternator has been changed and modified,” confirmed Renault’s head of track operations, Remi Taffin, to AutoSport. “We had a new version we tested in Singapore, and another one in Suzuka. We ran that one again in Korea – and will do so here in India as well. As well as that, we were running it on the dyno and that will become the specification that we will introduce this year when we need it. But we also have other specifications that are coming from R&D that are focused on 2013.”
With Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel currently locked in a grueling Championship battle with the likes of Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, a switch away from a reliable component to one that has previously stunted their progress could well be a worrying prospect for the outfit. After leading every single lap since Lewis Hamilton’s gearbox failure in Singapore, Red Bull will be praying such gremlins do not return as this highly entertaining season enters its final races.
Picture Copyright © Pirelli
New Jersey Grand Prix Postponed Until 2014
The proposed New Jersey Grand Prix, which was initially scheduled to hold its inaugural race next season, has been postposed until at least 2014 following doubts surrounding the progress of what will become a street race incorporating the Manhattan skyline. The inaugural race was scheduled for June 2013.
However, after ongoing speculation with regards to the progress made on the construction and planning of the new venue by race organizers, F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone has officially confirmed that the race will be postponed for one year. The race was initially planned to take place one week after the Canadian Grand Prix, and would finally see the United States host two races in a season once again for the first time since 1984.
“It is not going to happen next year,” confirmed Bernie Ecclestone to Eurosport. “If they came up with the contract with us and we were satisfied the question is could they carry out the work in six months? Winter in New York is not good.”
This sudden change of events leaves a gap in the 2013 Formula 1 calendar between the Canadian and British Grands Prix, which looks unlikely to be filled. However, with Bernie Ecclestone rumored to be striving to return the Turkish Grand Prix to the calendar, next season could still remain at 20 races.
However, due to the fact that the Canadian Grand Prix is considered a flyaway race, it is highly unlikely that any race would be able to tie-in with the gap now present due to the postponement of the New Jersey Grand Prix.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
Charlie Whiting Gives Circuit of the Americas ‘Grade 1’ Status
Formula 1’s race director Charlie Whiting has given the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas ‘Grade 1’ status, after inspecting the track and its surrounding facilities ahead of November’s inaugural race around the 3.427-mile circuit. The track, like many new F1 circuits, has once again been designed by German architect Hermann Tilke.
Since the 2007 United States Grand Prix around the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield circuit, Formula 1 has failed to return to America for a race. However, this season will finally see the sport visit the United States once again, with what should be a thrilling penultimate race of the season. The new venue in Texas initially raised suspicion, what with the local NASCAR Sprint and Nationwide Series unquestionably the top form of motor sport in that part of the world.
However, many members within the Formula 1 paddock believe this season’s United States Grand Prix will be a big success, on a track which is already a talking point between the teams and drivers. The track itself features many corners reminiscent of other iconic locations throughout the motor sport world, including Silverstone and Istanbul. The track also features a tremendously intriguing start/finish straight and turn 1 section, which sees the track rise rapidly towards a tight left-hander which should offer many of the fans a superlative view of the action.
“Everything that I’ve seen so far has been absolutely first class and the progress that’s been made since the last time I was here is amazing,” explained Charlie Whiting. “The guys have done an awesome job – it really is quite fantastic! It’s built to the highest quality, exactly as we expected, and I’ve got absolutely no complaints whatsoever.”
“There are three or four corners that are very likely to see overtaking,” continued Charlie Whiting. “If you look at Turn 1, you’ll see that the turns have been designed so that they’re extremely wide and the apex is very short. It’s a very modern approach to slow corners where we hope overtaking will take place, so I’m very confident it will work well. Turn 1 is awesome! It’s the only word I can think of to describe it and I think drivers and teams coming here for the first time will say the same thing.”
The United States Grand Prix will be the penultimate race of the season, before the F1 fraternity heads straight to Sao Paulo for the season finale the following weekend around the Interlagos circuit. It is expected that the DRS zone for the race weekend will be situated between turns 11 and 12, which will include an exceedingly long straight with a perfect overtaking opportunity into turn 12. Charlie Whiting will make a final inspection of the track on November 12th, prior to the race weekend.
Picture Copyright © Circuit of the Americas
Provisional 2013 Formula 1 Calendar Released: Valencia Out, New Jersey In
The provisional calendar for the 2013 FIA Formula 1 World Championship has been released prior to this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, which features only one major alteration with the European Grand Prix in Valencia replaced by the American Grand Prix at what will be a new street venue in New Jersey.
The season will once again kick-off with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park on March 17th, in a season which is scheduled to span 20 races. The F1 fraternity will then move swiftly on to Malaysia one week later, before another double-header at China and Bahrain in similar fashion to how this season began.
The legendary Monaco Grand Prix is penciled in for May 26th, before the F1 circus heads off to North America for another double-header which will encompass the Canadian and American Grands Prix, with the latter set to be held around an all-new street circuit in New Jersey. The British Grand Prix is scheduled to be held on the 30th June, two weeks before another double-header with the German Grand Prix [which moves back to the Nürburgring] and the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 2013 season is scheduled to come to a conclusion in similar fashion to the current F1 season, with anther double-header which will include the United States Grand Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix. Naturally several races remain subject to contractual confirmation, such as the new race at New Jersey and the Korean Grand Prix. The proposed calendar will be submitted to the FIA’s Word Motor Sport council on September 28th, when a new meeting takes place which will finally approve the new calendar.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
First Lap Of Tarmac Laid At Circuit Of The Americas In Austin
Preparations for the penultimate race of this year’s Formula 1 season has taken another step forward, as the first lap of tarmac has been laid at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This brand-new, purpose-built venue, will become the home of Formula 1 in America when the action gets underway in November.
After a gap of four years, Formula 1 will finally make a glorious return to America in November for round 19 of the season. The circuit in Austin has been designed exclusively with Formula 1 in mind by none other than Hermann Tilke, the designer of circuits such as the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The process called ‘Marrying the track’ is carried out.
With only several months until the inaugural race at Austin, the first lap of tarmac has been laid around what will be a demanding 3.427-mile circuit consisting of 20 corners. This process, known as ‘marrying the track’, took place from turn 20 right through the starting grid and up the steep hill to turn 1. Around roughly 10 feet of Central Texas clay was excavated prior to this process around the entire length of the track, and was replaced by a black polyester material 30 millimeters in thickness. This material will act as an envelope for layers of select fill to be placed so that it remains exactly in place.
It has also been confirmed that two products of the highest quality will be implemented around the circuit to increase safety during race weekends. The popular TechPro barriers, which proved highly effective during Sergio Perez’s huge incident at Monaco last year will be utilized, along with Geobrugg Debris Fencing which uses Geobrugg’s high-tensile steel wire mesh to protect spectators from debris.
General Admission tickets for the race weekend are already sold out, according to the venue. However, tickets for some of the grandstands are still available to purchase. With high ticket sales and the prospect of a scintillating season finale, the 2012 American Grand Prix has all the ingredients to be one of the most memorable F1 races on American soil.
Picture(s) Copyright © Circuit of the Americas
Mario Andretti Positive Ahead Of American GP At Austin
Former American Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti believes American F1 fans are in for a huge treat when the sport returns to the States in November, racing on a brand new track in Austin, Texas. The Circuit of the Americas will be the first purpose-built Formula 1 track in America, after the sport previously used established circuits such as Watkins Glen, Long Beach and Phoenix.
The last time a Formula 1 race was held in America was in 2007, at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track was part-oval and part-circuit, incorporating the legendary oval track as the final corner and start-finish straight. However, after the 2007 race which was won by Lewis Hamilton, the American Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar after Tony George stated difficulties meeting Bernie Ecclestone’s demands to continue hosting the event.
After four years without F1 racing in the States, American F1 fans can rejoice with the knowledge that not one but two races are planned within the next two years. Motorsport legend Mario Andretti has been appointed ambassador for the new track in Austin, and believes the return of Formula 1 can only be seen as a positive.
“It can only be positive.” Explained Mario Andretti, “I said it a million times and I will continue to say it: the Formula One fan base in the United States is very much understated and I think it will be embraced now to have a proper, solid home. Something that you can look forward to every year and not just move around. This now is solid. Formula One fans can now rejoice, in my opinion, as we now finally have a home.”
The last American Formula 1 driver was Scott Speed, who last competed in a race back in 2007 for Toro Rosso. However, half-way during the 2007 season the Californian driver was replaced by none other than Sebastian Vettel. Scott Speed failed to score any World Championship points throughout his relatively short F1 career, however Mario Andretti believes talent within the States could be found with the right financial backing.
“America is probably the only country in the world that can provide and satisfy the career of a racing driver with either IndyCar or NASCAR, so aspirants never have to worry about being at Formula One level.” Said Andretti, “Now, if you have a Formula One race that you can look forward to – at its own track – I think that there are many youngsters in the United States who could start to dream about racing in Formula One. But they would need some help – some sponsors to get behind them to land seats in top teams – not just be there, but to have real chances for results and to give the sport a real chance to get popular. An American in Formula One will be good for Formula One – and it is good for America. It’s win-win.”
With the 2012 season currently wide open and highly unpredictable, Mario Andretti believes the sport is enjoying a peak in popularity. With seven different winners in the first seven races, Andretti believes it’s fantastic that you can no longer predict the top three.
“Formula One is enjoying its best time right now, no question.” Enthused Andretti, “The technology factor is good; it is still individual; the cars are so different – but still perform the same. That is awesome. It can’t be any better than that. I think there is nobody who will be able to predict the outcome of a race – or even the top three. Two years ago I could almost tell you the top three at every race – this season: impossible!”
The 2012 United States Grand Prix will take place between 16th-18th November, and will be the penultimate race of this very unique season.
Picture Copyright © Circuit of the Americas
Doubts Over 2013 New Jersey Grand Prix
Formula 1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubts over whether the proposed Grand Prix of America at the Port Imperial street circuit in New Jersey will go ahead next year, after a recent problem to secure funding means the event organizers could well have failed to comply with Mr. Ecclestone’s contract.
After the race was confirmed in October 2011, with the track set to have a glorious backdrop of the Hudson River and the New York City skyline which would be only minutes away, financial issues could well jeopardize the event. With America set to host it’s first F1 race since 2007 at the brand new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas later this year, it looked as though the popularity of the sport was on the increase.
“I don’t know if it is going to happen”, Explained Bernie Ecclestone to ESPN. “I hope everything will be okay. They are sorting things out internally with some of their funds. If they are ready for 2013 we will have them. We are waiting for different parts of the contract to be agreed.”
However, with Mr. Ecclestone casting doubts over the race, the circuit itself is continuing to refuse or acknowledge this publicly believing they are still on track to host the event at the arranged date in June.
“We don’t comment on our contractual relationship with Formula One or its details.” Said a spokesmen from the circuit, “We are on track for a June 2013 race, with all course engineering and construction progressing precisely on schedule, a strong management team in place, and strong ongoing support from New Jersey, New York City and the local communities involved.”
Whilst these doubts linger over the New Jersey Grand Prix, the Circuit of the Americas will host its inaugural race this November. However, trouble still lingers over this race as the circuit remains locked in an argument with the initial promoter Tavo Hellmund. Many future races seem to have question marks lingering over them at the moment, with the two proposed American Grands Prix no exception.
Picture Copyright © Reuters
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